Kari Lajosi (link) is a custom putter maker based in Melbourne, Australia. I first discovered him when working with Bruce Rearick of Burnt Edges Consulting (link) back in 2018. Kari makes some stunning putters, and I would recommend you check out his website and other social media content.
This putter was built to the specifications recommended by Bruce during my online fitting. It is a heel-shafted, flow neck blade with a half shaft offset and almost full toe hang. The lie angle is 71°, the loft is 3°, and it has deep horizontal milling on the face. It’s made from carbon steel with a copper finish. I hope you will agree that it is a lovely-looking putter.
I’ve installed a BGT Stability Carbon shaft and a SuperStroke Tour 1.0 grip.
So if this is my perfect fit, why have I been using all these other putters?
That’s a fair question! It’s not that this putter hasn’t ever been in the bag, it’s more that it’s never managed to stay in! Over the last few years, I have had more success using mid-mallet designs than blades. I’ve always liked blades for long putts, where they make my stroke feel free and fluid, but I’ve preferred mallets on short putts. In reality, that’s really been a confidence thing.
However, there has been a noticeable change over the course of this season, and I think it’s down to two things. First, there are all of the putter reviews I’ve done. While they have been great for actually practising my putting, they have also allowed me to observe what designs have worked and what styles I prefer. My Atlanta mid-mallet was ultimately kicked out of the bag by a blade in the shape of the SeeMore Mini Giant FGP. The BGT Paradox blade was also a strong contender, as was the Scotty Cameron Catalina (my favourite for looks). Second, and I think much more important, has been the impact of learning AimPoint. Now that I have more data, I really should update my AimPoint post, but (spoiler alert) it’s fair to say that I’ve putted much better recently. My confidence on the greens is much higher; I don’t doubt my aim the way I used to, and I make a better, freer stroke as a result.
Given this improved confidence, coupled with the results from the SeeMore, I thought now would be a good time to revisit the Lajosi and see if it could finally claim top spot in the bag.
The testing process
I put the Lajosi through the same protocol that I’ve used for my other reviews, six putts, repeated three times from 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15ft, followed by a 30ft lag test and a start line test. The benchmark is now the SeeMore Mini Giant FGP. As it is in the bag, it only runs through the tests once.
It would be fair to say that I really wanted the Lajosi to do well in these tests. It’s the putter I designed, customised to my specifications, and it has special engraving that holds deep meaning for me. But, unfortunately, it couldn’t match the performance of the SeeMore, and a bit like a game of “winner stays on”, it remains the top putter.
Positives and negatives
Specification / Customisation: The beauty of purchasing from a custom putter maker is that you will receive exactly what you want. I wanted a naked blade with a half offset flow neck and a lot of toe hang. But there’s more to the process, and I would do it differently with the knowledge I have now. If you can work with a good fitter / putting instructor, then you’ve got a better chance of getting this right.
Feel 1: This is a copper-plated carbon steel head finished with deep horizontal milling, which makes it feel very soft at impact. That’s what I wanted at the time of ordering, but my preference has changed, and now I find it too soft. The lag test was interesting, as I struggled to get the ball past the hole the way I did with the SeeMore. My dominant miss with the Lajosi is short. If I were going through the process again today, I would order a stainless steel head and mid-milling.
Feel 2: I’ve not wanted to give up on this putter and have tried various different shafts and grips since I bought it. The current combination of BGT Stability Carbon and SuperStroke Tour 1.0 is the best so far. It has definitely helped make it feel a bit firmer, but not enough to offset the points above.
Shape: My shape preference has also changed, and now I prefer the Newport Plus / Catalina shape over the Monterey / Circa 62 #2 shape that this Lajosi has. Kari has a DD201 (wide body) model that would likely be my choice now.
Aim: Recent testing has definitely proved that I aim better with a blade than I do with a mallet. The start line tests have definitely been better, and their overall putting success has also been better.
Performance: The tests above don’t tell the whole story, and I think the Lajosi actually performed pretty well. I’ve also taken it on the course a couple of times to see how it performed under the pressure of a game. As much as I wanted to like it and wanted it to win, it just doesn’t perform as well as the SeeMore.
Value for money: Kari’s putters are remarkably good value for money, especially when you consider the quality of the workmanship and the service you receive. They compare very favourably to the price of an “off the rack” Scotty Cameron. If, like me, you can shaft and grip the club yourself, then he will also do you a deal for head (and cover) only, which saves on postage and customs duty.
Resale: You don’t buy a custom putter with an eye on resale, and that’s just as well, as there really isn’t much of a market for them. Despite a growing international following, most golfers will have never heard of Kari Lajosi putters.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, the Lajosi will remain in the spares bag. While it gave the SeeMore a decent run for its money, it stopped short of being able to replace it. I would design a different putter if I were going through the process again today. It would still be a blade with the same loft and lie, but I would go for a different shape and material. If you are considering a custom putter, then I can highly recommend Kari Lajosi. His build quality is excellent, and your options are endless.
As a side note, the day after doing this testing, I had one of my all-time best putting performances. Maybe the SeeMore felt threatened! Or maybe practising your putting actually helps……